Magic lantern - Made by John Wrench.

Magic Lanterns, made by
John Wrench

This magic lantern bears the words 'London made', a registration number and the trademark of the manufacturer John Wrench. The dimensions are 44 cm long, with extended lens 49 cm, 16 cm wide and 37 cm high.

The Terpuoscope, made by J. Wrench ca 1900. This special form of magic lantern has a vertical slide-carrier, designed to automatically register the slides by means of springs, and a rolling curtain effect, working by a rack-and-pinion system operated by a removable brass lever with a bone handle. The brass curtain rolls up and down when the slides are changed. The body of the lantern has a door on each side with brass fittings and blue glass windows. The doors open to allow access to the upper chamber which contains the lamp and the condenser. The lower compartment of the lantern may be used to store the chimney and some wooden slides. There is also a compartment that contains a standard size double slide holder. The front of the lantern is completely made of lacquered brass with a removable rack-and-pinion controlled 7 inch lens. Photographs show the Russian iron model; a mahogany body model was also available.
A very handsome and quite substantial late 19th Century mahogany and brass magic lantern complete with 6" brass lens and original slide carrier. The lens is marked with its focal length, the maker’s trademark (Wrench), serial number and the words ‘London Made’ and ‘Established 1816’. The lantern itself has the retailer’s plate, City Sale and Exchange of Fleet Street in London. Approximately 56 cm long, 45 cm high.